Temper-screw clamp



Mar. 6, 1923. 7 1,447,456 L. E. WREGHT TEMPER SCREW CLAMP Filed Apr. 2,1921 2 sheets-sheet l Mar- 6, 1923 1,447,456 E. WRIGHT YTEMPER SCREWCLAMP Filed Apr. 2, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 211111111/1111. 1111112111 4III II I II! I I fiwenzn Patented Mar. 6, i923.

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LESLIE n. WRIGHT, or Los ANGELES, canironnin, iissienoa TO FRED L.WRIGHT, or Los antennas, CALIFORNIA.

TEl/lPER-SCBEVL CLAMP.

Application filed April 2, 1921. Serial No. 458,155.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LnsLIn E. lVnIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Temper-ScrewClamps, and the following is such a full, clear, and exact disclosure ofthe invention that anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains maymake and use the same.

Broadly speaking, the present invention relates to cable clamps; and itspecifically relates to a class of clamps commonly used in connectionwith well drilling apparatus, and generally temper screw clamps.

While not necessarily limited to such use, the following disclosure willbe specifically directed to the application of my invention as a temperscrew clamp; and its construction and operation explained, in itspreferred specific embodiment, in connection with the work to beperformed by such a device.

My foremost object in designing and perfecting the present invention,was to provide a device of this character, whereby a number ofobjectionable features commonly experienced in the use of devices ofthis same general character now in common use, could be obviated.

It is well known in the well drilling art that the clamps of thisnature, now generally used in connection with such drilling apparatus,are supported on the lower end of the temper screw which, in turn, iscarried on the walking beam, to grip and hold the line supporting thedrill bits in the well; and these, as far as I know, are all of thescrew .type. That is, they consist of opposed blocks arranged to beclamped and held about the line, by means of a manually operable screw.Owing to the limitations of strength and wear, such a clamp arrangementhas been foundto be inefficient in 45 many respects, and very oftenfails, or lets go of the line, resulting in considerable.

damage and added expense to the cost of drilling. Furthern'iore, owingto the particular position of the clamp at the lower end of the temperscrew, which is generally some distance above the derrick floor, theclamp screw is in a more or less awkward position to be operated by aworkman, to eifect the clamping of the blocks about the line; and it isvery often difficult for the workman to handle the clamping screw tosufficiently tighten the blocks about the line to hold.

Therefore, I have designed the herein disclosed invention to overcomethe defects of the aforementioned type of device, and to provide aconstruction which is simple, durable, and cheap to manufaciure; andwhich will automatically adjust and clamp itself about the cable,thereby overcoming the necessity for manual adjustment, as in the caseof screw clamps.

The merits of my invention will be more fully forth in the followingdetailed description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part thereof, and in which Fig. l is a frontelevation of my assembled clamp, showing it suspended from the lower endof a temper screw; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, taken on line 2-2of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is transverse sectional elevation, taken on line 3 3of Fig. 2 showing the arrangement in clamped position about a cable;Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, only showing the clamping blocks inopen or unclamped position; Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view, taken onthe line 55 of Fig. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation of theclamping block support; the view being taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig.'7 is a perspective view shoving one .of the clamping blocks asillustrated in Figs. 1 to 4;, inclusive; Fig. 8 is a front elevation,similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of construction; Fig. 9 is aplan View of the same, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, parts being brokenaway to show details of con strnction; Fig. 10 is a transverse sectionalview taken as indicated by the line 1.0--l0 of 8; Fig. 11 isalongitudina]. sectional elevation taken as indicated by the line l-l1of Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 7,inclusive, the numeral l0 designates a cylindrical clamp {block support,constructed of metal and preferably formed integral. The weight and massof this element may be varied to suit circ m stances, but it ispreferably constructed heavy. so its weight will facilitate in itsclamping adjustment about the line, as will hereinafter appear. Thisblock 10 has a diametrical slot extending through it, as indicated bythe numeral 11, and extending approximately midway of the depth of theblock, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A second longitudinal slot 12 extendsinto the block 10, at substantially right angles to the slot 11, thislast mentioned slot extending from top to bottom of the block and beyondthe axial center thereof, to permit the insertlon of the cable or line13 thereinto to a point in alignment with the transverse slot 11. Whilethe block 10 is here shown to be cylindrical in cross sectionalconfiguration, and fiat at the ends, thatis, top and bottom; it may beof any cross-sectional configuration suitable to accomplish the purposesherein set forth.

A pair of substantially rectangular clamping blocks 14 and 15, havingcomplementary opposed grooves 14 and 15 in their inner adjacent faces,are loosely mounted in the transverse slot 11; they being preferably ofa width to form a sliding fit in the slot, and shorter in length thanthe depth of the block 10; so their lower ends 16 will extend into andrest upon thebottom 17 of a recess 18, formed by a downward continuationof the transverseslot 11. The width of the recess 18 is slightlygreater, in the direction of length of the slot 11, than the total widthof the two blocks 14 and 15, to permit their movement relative to theaxial center of the block 10, and the juncture of the slots 11 and 12,to open and close about the cable 13, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.Walls 20 and 21, are formed by the recess 18, which form stops againstwhich the lower ends of the clamping blocks 14 and 15 abut to limittheir outward movement.

The blocks 14 and 15 may be provided with flanges 20 along their frontand rear faces to engage the top of the block 10, as shown in Fig. 2,the action of these flanges in connection with the lower ends 16 slidingon the bottom 17, of the recess 18, is to maintain the blocks 14 and 15in proper alignment during their movement into and out of clampingengagement with the cable 13.

The block 10 is ordinarily supported. upon a yoke 22, carried on thelower end of the temper screw, (not shown) by means of links engagingeyes 24 in the upper ends of the arms 25; the latter being pivotally connected to the block 10 by means of pivot pins 26 passing through theirlower ends. The pins 26 may be in the form of bolts (see Fig. 5),extending through suitable apertures transverse to the slot 11, theblock 10 being angularly recessed as at 27 to accommodate the heads 28and suitable nuts 29. Thus it will be seen that the block 10, carryingthe clamping blocks 14 and 15, is of some considerable weight; thisweight tending to align the links 23 and arms 25,

- longitudinally with each other, when it is suspended from. the yoke22, and causing the arms 25 to turn about in their pivotal points 26 asshown.

The clamping blocks 14 and 15 are adapted to be moved into clampingengagement with the cable 13, by the action of cams 30, preferablyformed integral with the lower or pivoted ends of the arms 25; the camsurfaces 32, of these cam portions 30, being adapted to engage arcuaterecesses 33 in the outer faces of the clamping blocks 14 and 15, whensufficient weight is put upon the block 10 to move it downwardly, oraway from the yoke 22, and thereby moving the arms 25 to the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 3. The cams 30 are preferably arranged 011 the arms25, in the manner shown in the drawings, so that when the block 10 ismoved relatively closer to the yoke 22, and the arms 25 moved to theposition shown in Fig. 4, or approximately thereabout, the cam faces 32engaging the recesses 33 will move to a position which will permit theblocks 14 and 15 to move outwardly or relatively away from each other,and disengage the cable 13. After the device has been adjusted about thecable 13, and the blocks 14 and 15 brought into engagement therewith, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, any additional weight or pull downwardlyon the cable, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, willhave a tendency to longitudinally align the links 23 with arm 25, thelatter pivoting about the pins 26, and cansing a further or tighteningengagement of the cam surfaces 32 with the recesses 33, and consequentlya tighter clamping of the blocks 14 and 15 about the cable 13.

Under ordinary circumstances when the block 10 is raised or movedrelatively closer to the yoke 22, the arms 25 swinging out-- wardlyabout pivots 26, will release the inward pressure on the blocks 14 and15, and consequently the blocks will separate, releasing their clampinghold on the cable 13. In order to make this releasing function of theblocks more positive, I cut slots 34 in the cams 30, eccentric to thepivot pins 26, (see Figs. 3 and 4) and extend a small pin 35 throughthis slot and through the-side walls 36 of the arcuate recesses 33. Thusit will be seen that movement of the arms 25 from the position shown inFig. 3 to that shown in Fig, 4 will cause a movement of the blocks 14and '15 outwardly and away from the cable 13;

lVhile the arcuate recesses 33 may be dispensed with, if desired,without impairing the efficient functioning of the clamp, and the camsmade to contact with the straight faces of the blocks, I prefer toretain them for the purpose of preventing the blocks from beingvertically displaced in their seat. However, other suitable means may beprovided for this purpose.

In operation, the clamp is suspended from the yoke 22 of the temperscrew, which screw is supported upon the reciprocating end of thewalking beam, in the manner well known in well drilling. The drill cable13 which carries the drill bit at its lower end in the well, isordinarily suspended from the top of the derrick where it passes over asheave onto the bull-wheel for the spudding o aeration or starting ofthe well. After this spudding operation is completed or the well sunk toa certain depth, then the line is connected to the reciprocating or freeend of the walking beam, by this clamp ar rangement, to complete thedrilling of the well. In attaching the clamp about the cable 13 it isbrought into a position adjacent the suspended cable, and the block 10raised toward the yoke 22, so the clamping blocks 14 and 15 will beseparated a sufficient distance to receive the cable. The block 10 isthen adjusted about the cable by passing the cable into the slot 12 andinto alignment with the transverse slot 11, and between the separatedblocks 14 and 15; after which the block 10 is dropped, and due to theforce of and the action of the links 23 and arms 25, and cams 30, blocks14 and 15 are forced together to tightly engage the line; whichengagement is tightened or made more secureby any added weight on theclamp due to the weight of the line, etc., when the bull wheel brake istaken off. After the full weight of the cable is on the clamp theportion of the cable extending thereabove is then sufficiently slackenedto permit the oscillating movements of the walking beam to carry on thedrilling operation. When it is desired to release the clamp, it is onlynecessary to lift it up, or move it towards the yoke 23. and theclamping blocks 14 and 15, due to the outward and downward pivotalmovement of the arm 25, will release the cable.

In the modified form of the device shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive,the arms 25 are suspended from the yoke 22 by means of the links 23, inthe same manner as in the aforementioned form. In this case, however,the arms 25 are turned so the cams 30 extend outwardly from the clampingblocks 14 and 15", the arms 25 being pivotally mounted directly on theclamping blocks by means of rings 36, rigidly carried thereon, and eX-tending through eyes 37, in the arms. The block 10 is dispensed with,and instead a rectangularly formed frame 38 having a back portion 39,right angular end portions 40, and front separated portions 41, formedintegral, is provided for supporting the clamping blocks 14 and 15".

The blocks 14 and 15 are transversely recessed, as at 42, in their frontand rear faces, for the reception of the front and rear portions 41 and39, respectively, of the frame 38, thus forming rails 43, for engagingthe longitudinal edges of these portions where by the blocks aresupported longitudinally slidable in the frame 38. The recesses 42 arepreferably of a depth equal to the thickness of the frame portions 39and 41, the blocks being slidingly retained thereon by means of plates44, secured to their places by means of cap screws 45.

The front portions 41 of the frame 38 are spaced, as at 46, to permitpassage of the cable 13 therethrough, when the blocks 14 and 15 areseparated; this space being preferably not any wider than is necessaryfor this purpose.

The front recesses 42 and plates 44, not only provide a bearing surfaceto balance movement of the blocks, but also serve to maintain the frameportions 41 in alignment and prevent springing of the frame by theaction of the cams.

The arms 25* are pivotally mounted on the rings 36 so there is aclearance between their rear faces and the outer end faces of theblocks; and so clamping action of the blocks will be produced by contactof the cam faces 32 with the inner faces of the end portions 40, thisface being transmitted to the blocks through the rings 36.

hen the blocks 14 and 15 are lowered or raised relative to the yoke 22,the arms 25 will be moved about their pivotal points on the blocks, bymeans of the links 23, causing the cam surfaces 32 to engage ordisengage the inner faces of the ends 40, thereby forcing the blockstogether or permitting their separation, according to the movementrelative to the yoke.

While I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is nevertheless to be understood that I reserve the rightto make any modifications or changes in structure, which properly comewithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting member, asupport for the supporting member, clamping members transverse-1ymovably mounted on the supporting member, and means to actuate theclamping members by longitudinal movement of the supporting memberrelative to its support, said means comprising arms pivotally mounted attheir lower ends on the support ing member, cams on said arms adjacenttheir pivotal points adapted to engage the clamping members, and linkconnections between the upper ends of said arms and the said support.

2. In a device of the character described, a diametrically slottedsupporting member, a support for said supporting member a pair oflongitudinally disposed relatively movable clamping members slidablymounted in said slot, and means to actuate said clamping members bymovement of the supporting member relative to its support, said meanscomprising a pair of arms pivotally mounted at their lower ends in saidslot adjacent the clamping members, link connections between the upperends of said arms and said support, and cams on said pivoted endsadapted to engage the clamping members and move them into clampingrelation on movement of the supporting member relatively away from itssupport.

3. In a device of the character described, a diametrically slottedsupporting member, a support for said supporting member, a pair oflongitudinally disposed relatively movable clamping members slidablymounted in said slot, and means to actuate said clamping members bymovement of the supporting member relative to its support, said 'meanscomprising a pair of arms pivotally mounted at their lower ends in thesaid slot adjacent the clamping members, link connections between theupper ends of said arms andthe said support, cams on the lower pivotedends of said arms adapted to engage the clamping members and move theminto clamping relation on movement of the sup-- porting memberrelatively away from its support, and means in connection with said armsto move the clamping members out of clamping relation when thesupporting member is moved relatively towards its support.

4. In a device of the character described, a supporting member, asupport, relatively movable clamping members movably mounted on saidsupporting member, and means I to move said clamping members intoclamping relation on movement thereof relative to said support, saidmeans comprising a pair of arms pivotally mounted adjacent their lowerends on the clamping members, link connections between the upper ends ofsaid arms and the said support, and cams adjacent the lower pivoted endsof said arms adapted to engage said supporting member on movement of theclamping members relatively away from said support.

5. In a device of the character described, a supporting member having atransversely disposed clamp supporting base, a support for thesupporting member, clamping members relatively movably supported on saidclamp supporting base, and means to actuate said clamping members intheir clamping movement by movement of the supporting member relative toits support.

6. In a device of the character described, a supporting member, a.support for the supporting member, clamping members mounted on thesupporting member, and means to positively move said clamping member inand out of clamping relation by movement of the supporting memberrelative to its sup port, said means comprising armspivotally mounted onthe supporting member, link connections between said arm and thesupport, and eccentric connections between the arms and the clampingmembers- 7.In a. device of the character described, a supporting member,a support for the supporting member, transversely movable clampingmembers slidably mounted on the supporting member, and means topositively move the said clamping members in and out of clampingrelation by movement of the supporting member relative to its support,said means comprising arms pivotally mounted on the supporting member,link connections between said arms and the support, and eccentricconnections between the arms and the clamping members.

In witness that. I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed myname this 23d day of March, 1921.

LESLIE E. WRIGHT

